MOST people in Britain believe artificial intelligence should not replace NHS doctors, according to a new survey released today.

The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) surveyed 1,021 British adults and found that only 22 per cent would back AI replacing specialist medics or cancer doctors.

Some 18 per cent said they would support AI performing surgery independently, while just 5 per cent backed the use of fully autonomous AI with no human input.

Thirty-nine per cent said they would prefer radiologists to use AI as a supplementary tool when reading scans, while 36 per cent backed AI models operating independently, but with a subsequent review by clinicians.

But 44 per cent were unaware of how the technology is being used in healthcare.

The RCR said that “this points to a need for greater communication” about the potential use of AI in the NHS “to build confidence and acceptance for future uses.”